Asylum seekers not welcome in NZ - Key

A boat carrying about 85 Sri Lankan asylum seekers,
apparently bound for New Zealand, has been detained in
Indonesia.

The Indonesian navy intercepted the boat on Saturday, and it
was now understood to be tied up an port in Tanjung Pinang.

Photographs show people on the boat waving New Zealand flags
and holding signs saying their future is in New Zealand.

Speaking at a post-cabinet press conference this afternoon,
Prime Minister John Key confirmed the incident, but said he
did not know what would happen to the boat now.

"Our very simple message to them is they are not welcome
here," Mr Key said.

"It confirms what I've been saying for some time; it's only a
matter of time before large vessels, steel-hulled vessels
capable of navigating their way to New Zealand or Canberra or
far away parts of the world, would try and make their way
here, and it's vehemently possible that this boat was
intending to do that."

Mr Key said there was no chance those people would be let
into New Zealand under other refugee quotas.